officers are all in it and will protect him against any allegations of corruption. To some extent this has helped to create the impression that corruption has spread quite far upwards.
(8) Many people may not like to pay squeeze but they are even more frightened of (-trouble)-- the trouble of reporting corruption and being cross-examined by A.C. Branch, of appearing in court as a witness etc. They firmly believe that reporting a corrupt officer will result in reprisals. Even if the corrupt officer is dealt with, the informer's business or application may get on to some black list whereby other members of the same department will seize each and every excuse to prosecute him. It is believed that unless someone intends to wind up his business, it is very unwise to try to fight the corrupt official because usually a syndicate exists. They do not believe that it is useful to report this to some senior officers, because some clever explanation can always be given to justify the officer's course of action. If some inspector wishes to find fault with some licensed premises, he can easily list half a dozen valid reasons for prosecution. He can legitimately maintain that he is only doing a thorough job. Actually he is doing the right thing for the wrong reason, but it is extremely difficult to prove that he has an ulterior motive.
(9) The public often do not see the need or justification for stringent controls or high standards insisted upon. Operators often feel that the requirements are not always necessary and sometimes unrealistic. Failure to comply is unlikely to result in some major disaster which will attract public attention. All that remains to be done is to pay some enforcer to turn a blind eye. The bribe usually costs much less than the expenses for compliance. Again both parties are mutually happy and will jointly keep quiet.
(10) It is a Chinese custom to pay tea money to workers as a tip in the commercial sector.
Tea money
is often an accepted convention. A housewife may want to tip a mechanic or artisan from some public utility company, or even a commercial firm, to ensure that he gives good service. Govern- ment minor staff, e.g. postmen, are often offered tips, particularly at Chinese festivals. The payers do not appreciate or agree with Government regulations about such things and can see nothing wrong with the practice.
(11) Public attitude towards minor Government staff making some extra money is often one of sympathy. There is a feeling that the low grades are not paid an adequate wage to keep their families and some people find it most reluctant to report on minor staff which may result in breaking their rice bowls, whereas they believe that 'big corruption' exists elsewhere in Govern- ment and that should be Government's major concern and target. This attitude is reinforced by the knowledge that some minor Government staff have to do outside work, perhaps illegitimately, to make ends meet, particularly in these days of inflation.
(12) The younger generation, however, tend to take a much more critical view of Government about corruption. Their anti-establishment cast of mind easily lends itself to the belief that Government is very corrupt. They get very emotional about it. Representatives of the Federation of Students said emphatically at a recent meeting of the Social Causes of Crime Committee that the root causes of crime stemmed from corruption inside Government and that Government should begin by putting its own house in order before putting the blame for crime on young offenders. (13) Even the more passive and pessimistic attitude of the docile middle-age group has recently taken a turn to be more critical of Government because of the upsurge in crime. There is widespread concern and anxiety about alleged police corruption and protection of vice-rackets which are believed to be a major cause of crime. The GODBER case gave rise to a great deal of public emo- tion, particularly when the BLAir-Kerr Report revealed that GODBER was in possession of an extensive list of vice-joints."
88. I also received very considerable assistance from Mrs. ELLIOTT; but I do not propose to quote from her communications to me because she frequently names individuals; and it is no part of the functions of this Com- mission to judge, much less cast aspersions on, any person. This is not a court of law trying specific charges. My concern is to form some general idea of the extent to which corruption permeates this society of ours (particularly the public service) to enable me to decide whether the problem should be tackled by means of "tougher" legislation, relaxation of disciplinary procedures, changes in current arrangements, or perhaps a combination of all three.
89. Hong Kong is now an industrialized society and it operates, to a very large extent, on 19th century laissez-faire lines. Since 1949, the population has risen from approximately 1 million to 4 millions. A large proportion of the people are the sons of those who, in the words of my informants, lived in a country ruled by a Government which was "riddled with corruption", and were members of a society which paid only “lip service ... to the idea of modern government". Many have no real roots here or a true sense of belonging; and because
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